Notification device and notification method

Abstract

An alert notification device includes a plurality of devices working together as a whole configured to capture sound events in a restricted surrounding environment being monitored by a user with hearing disability, wherein the alert notification device includes a portable output device configured to execute an alert notification application that analyses at least one match indicator signal received by output device itself, a source signal captured by a resource or a third-party application executed in output device, and, based on an alert notification profile selected by the user using the alert notification application itself and produces, by means of portable output device's own resources, an alert notification signal that is seasonally and visually adapted for the user.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An alert notification device comprising a plurality of devices that work together as a whole, configured so as to capture sound events in a restricted surrounding environment being monitored by a hearing-impaired user, characterised in that the alert notification device ( 11 ) comprises at least one sound input device ( 18 ) to capture sound events and transmit, in real time, an input signal relating to the sound event captured to a controller ( 15 ) over a first and a second wireless communications interface ( 17 , 16 ) electrically connected to the input device ( 18 ) and to the controller ( 15 ), respectively, the controller ( 15 ) being configured to search for a match between the input signal received and, a plurality of target sound events stored in a database ( 20 ) and, where a match is found, the controller ( 15 ) is configured to transmit a match indicator signal to an output device ( 12 ) via a third wireless communications interface ( 141 ) and/or a fourth radio interface ( 142 ) to cause transmission of the match indicator signal to a cochlear implant adapted to include a wireless interface electrically connected to a coil of the cochlear implant itself to tray transduce the match indicator signal into a corresponds ng alert notification signal for the cochlear implant user. 
     
     
       2. A device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that portable output device ( 12 ) is configured to execute, within output device ( 12 ) itself, an alert notification application that analyses at least the match indicator signal received, a source signal captured by an application executed in output device ( 12 ), and, based on the alert notification profile selected by the user using the alert notification application itself, produce, using portable output device's ( 12 ) own resources, an alert notification signal that is sensorially and visually adapted for the user. 
     
     
       3. A device according to  claim 2 , characterised in that portable output device ( 12 ) executes an alert notification application downloadable from an application server ( 21 ) of a service provider inside output device ( 12 ) itself via a sixth radio interface ( 142 ) and/or a fifth wireless communications interface ( 131 ). 
     
     
       4. A device according to  claim 3 , characterised in that portable output device ( 12 ) comprises an alarm device, a monitoring device, an LED matrix, an audiovisual, screen, vibrating means, a radio transmitter, an ultrasonic transducer, a voice alert device, a visual warning device, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
       5. A device according to  claim 3 , characterised in that portable output device ( 12 ) is in the nature of a portable smart device, a wearable device, or the like. 
     
     
       6. A device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the database is configured to store and update sound events that are biological or electromechanical in origin or command words or any combination thereof. 
     
     
       7. A device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that sound input device ( 18 ) is a microphone.